Pakistan Market Wrap: Early Gains Fade as Investors Lock in Profits – By HMFS Research
Dec 16 2025
HMFS Research
- The market opened on a firm footing but failed to sustain momentum, slipping into a range-bound session as early optimism gave way to profit taking. Despite the post-MPC rate cut of 50bps — the first after four consecutive holds — investors opted to lock in gains, particularly in key index heavyweights that had already seen sharp run-ups.
- The KSE-100 oscillated between an intraday high of 1,181 points and a low of 549 points before closing at 170,447, down 294 points. Trading activity remained healthy, with volumes clocking in at 475mn shares on the KSE100 and 1.17bn shares on the All-Share Index. PIBTL (102mn), BOP (89mn) and TPLP (80mn) led volumes for the day. Near-term market direction is likely to remain choppy, as the rate cut appears largely priced in and investors reassess valuations amid selective profit-taking. Investors should remain selective, using any volatility-driven dips to accumulate fundamentally strong names while avoiding momentum driven trades.
